Page 4 - the SyI Quarterly V3 digital (1)

Know your Institute

Chairman’s Update:

Becoming a ‘Virtual’ Institute

Professor Alison Wakefield CSyP FSyI

The Institute has long been proud to have members all
over the world who gain benefit from membership without
necessarily having the opportunity to attend our physical
events, and we have continued to invest in member services
that deliver value wherever one’s location. Yet the global
pandemic has taken ‘virtual’ membership and the delivery
of online services to a new level, in ways that are certain to
continue long after the current challenges are over. It has
been a period of great sacrifice for many of our members,
staff and volunteers who have suffered illness or loss of
loved ones, worked on the front line despite the increased
health risks to themselves and their families, experienced
job losses or a loss of income due to furlough, been
separated from close family members, or had to postpone
important events. Yet the efforts of Security Institute staff
members and volunteers have helped maintain a degree of
continuity and normality that I am sure has meant a lot to
many. I want to start this column with a heartfelt thank you
to Rick, Helen, Di, Paula, Jade, Becky, Lisa and Ben for not
only keeping the Institute running so well and in difficult
circumstances, but also for the incredible innovations they
have made and the new skills they have taught themselves Our new online activities and services have ranged from
in order to do so. one-off webinars, training sessions and social gatherings, to
additional online professional resources, discounted
I’m delighted to be able to report that new member courses, and our 12-week CPD challenge, promoting
applications are currently stronger than ever. Our partnership continuing professional development during the lockdown.
with the Government Security Profession, led by Dominic One of the great successes has been our online Chartered
Fortescue, the Government Chief Security Officer and Head of Security Professional application workshops, demystifying
the Government Security Function, is bringing us new members the assessment process and introducing participants to the
from across government and we warmly welcome them. We requirements of effective applications, which are well worth
also continue to welcome a steady stream of new members joining whether you feel ready to begin the process or just
joining us through our other routes. The size of the Institute want to start thinking towards applying in the coming years.
membership matters since we gain strength through numbers, Having recently fulfilled my promise to the Board to make
with an increased profile, a greater scope of expertise within my application, and found that it took me a week to layout
our ranks, greater influence and a stronger income stream that my activities and achievements in a way that sufficiently
builds our capacity and can be invested in new member addressed the five competencies with the depth and
services. coherence I wanted to convey, the rigour of the process

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